Heavy Competitions

Many
consider the heavy events to be what Highland Games are all about, and it is
certainly true that the heavy competitions are an integral part of the event
and one — the cabar toss — has come to almost symbolise the Highland games.

At Arisaig, we have Heavy competitions for Open & Local athletes and as in previous years our Open competition is sponsored by
the Road-to-the-Isles Marketing Group.

The events start at around 12:30pm and competitors
for this category are asked to present themselves to the stewards in the arena
in order to register for the competitions.

Tossing the Cabar

Cabers
vary greatly in length, weight, taper, and balance, all of which affect the
degree of difficulty in making a successful toss. Not only is strength essential, but considerable
skill is also required.
Competitors are judged on how closely their throws approximate the ideal
12 o'clock position on an imaginary clock, and it must fall away from the
thrower.

Putting the Stone

A 16lb or 22lb stone is propelled from behind a
wooden trig. The thrower is allowed to use any throwing style,
so long as the stone is put with one hand with the stone resting cradled in the
neck until the moment of release.

Weight over the Bar

The weight is a 56lb block which has a ring handle
attached with the objective to throw it up and over a bar similar to that used
in a pole vault.

Throwing the Hammer

The
hammer features a round metal ball weighing 16lb attached to the end of a solid
shaft. With the feet in a fixed position, the hammer is whirled around the
competitors head and thrown for distance over the shoulder.

Weight
for Distance

The
event involves a 28lb metal weight at the end of a chain. The implement is
thrown using one hand only, but otherwise using any technique. Usually a
spinning technique is employed.